Stepladder



H. J. HE IDER.

STEPLADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. I921.

1,401,470, Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

I I4 6 Henry WITNESSES Y BY I 4 I I r) ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. HEIDER, OF CARROLL, IOWA.

STEPLADDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. Human, a citizen of the United States, residin at Carroll, in the county of Carroll and tate of Iowa, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Stepladders, of which the fol owing is a specification.

This invention relates to step ladders, and especially to the means for securing the ste s to the supporting bars or legs.

he object is. to provide means for embracing the ends of the step to prevent any tilting motion of the same and at the same time to engage the opposed faces of the supporting bars or legs in such manner as to prevent forward or backward movement of the step with relation to the legs.

A further object is to provide such means in the form of a metal casting of simple construction, easily and cheaply manufactured, said casting being adapted to embrace the leg and the step in the above manner and to permit of the application of a truss rod beneath the step for bindin the legs against the ends of said step witli the castings interposed therebetween and also to permit of the assage of nails or other similar fasteners t rough the said legs and into the ends of the steps.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. forming a part of this specification, it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladder having the improved fastening means applied to the steps thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation, partly in section, of one of the steps of the ladder and the fastening means therefor.

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal section through one leg and the adjacent end of the step, with the fastener interposed therebetween. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 27, 1921,

Application filed June 30, 1921.

Serial No. 481,714.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the fastener.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown, in Fig. 1, a complete step ladder including supporting bars or legs 1, brace bars or props 2, spreading means 3 of any desired construction and including the usual. shelf or platform 5 to which the legs 1 and props 2 are hingedly connected, as indicated at G or in any other well known and desirable manner, the brace bars or props 9. being suitably connected together to cause their simultaneous swinging action, as by the crossed bars 7, which also serve to hold them in proper spaced relation at their lower ends.

The ladder as thus far described of an old and well known form of construction and may be of any other form, the present invention reciting the means, has been stated, of attaching the steps to the aforesaid legs to position the same in a horizontal plane when the ladder is set up for use with the legs in an inclined position and to brace the step and maintain the same rigidly between the legs in a manner to support great weight without danger of slipping or breaking.

The invention comprises supporting bracket 8 composed of cast steel or other suitable metal and formed to provide an elongated base plate 9 of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the step it) of the ladder and substantially co-e2-1tensive in length with the width of the said step, the front and rear edge 11. of the base member being arranged at an ai'lgle to the top and bottom edges, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, so as to conform to the horizontally disposed step and the inclined less, when the ladder is set up for use, as will be clearly understood.

Along the top edge of the base plate 9 there is provided an inwardly directed flange 12 extending from the front to the rear end of the plate and along the lower edge, the said plate is provided with spaced flanges 13, directed inwardly and extending from the front and rear edges of the plate to a point adjacent to the center thereof, the flanges 12 and 1.3, which are formed integrally with the base plate 9, being adapted to receive the adjacent end of the step 10 between the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 4: of the drawin Extending 50m the opposite or outer face of the base plate 9 and along the inclined front and rear edges of the same, are outwardly directed flanges 14-, between which is adapted to be fitted the inclined legs 1, the inner face of which iits fiat against the outer face of the base plate 9 and whose front and rear edges snugly bear against the said outer flanges 14 so as to prevent any possible tilting motion 01 the plate against the said leg, while the aforesaid flanges 12 and 18 prevent any like action of the step with relation to the bracket.

Between the inner lower flanges 13, the base plate 9 is provided with a downwardly directed extension 15 0t even thickness with the said base and having. midway between the said flanges, an opening 16 preferably rertangular in shape, and arrang d in alinement with said flanges, while the body of th base plate 9 is provided with a pair of spaced openings 17 located equal distances from the front and rear edges 11 of the plate and midway between the upper and lower, inner flanges 12 and 13 respectively.

When th brackets 8 are PlOPCll) applied with the step 10 fitting between the flanges 12 and 13, at each end, and the legs 1 positioned between the outwardly extending flanges 14;, a nail 18 is driven from the outside through the leg 1 in alinenient with each of the openings 17 of the base plate 9, through which the said nails pass and into the end of the step 10.

In order to further strengthen the structure and assist the nails in sustaining the weight to which the step may be subjected, a

, truss rod 19 is employed, the same being located underneath the step 10, from which it is spaced, at the center thereof, by block 20, formed of wood preferably and secured to the under side of the step by suitable nails, the outer ends of the truss rod rising upwardly from the block to lie immediately beneath the step and in line with the lower face thereol and traversing the opening 16 and suitable apertures 21 previously lorined in the legs 1 of the ladder.

The terminals of the truss rod 19 are threaded for the reception of nuts 22 located at the outer sides of the legs 1 and preferably having washers 23 interposed between them and the legs to prevent the wearing of the wooden leg when the nuts are turned up to tighten the truss rods in a manner to bind the legs between the flanges l t out the bracket and in turn to hold the latter :uraiust the ends ol the steps 10 as will be clearly understood.

A straight longitudinal pull is exerted. upon the step 1!) by the truss rod 19 by reason oi" the terminals of the latter being; so nearl in aliuenient with the same and it will be seen that the flanges l located against tie outer or front edges of the le s el) to sustain the weight on the slop and relieve the strain on the nails and the rust. red, by reason of the inclinat on oi" the aid le when the ladder is set up tor use.

if rcui the loregoingr it will be seen l ial :1 simple and chraply inanu'lacturrd bra ltrt has been provided :lor use in connection with step ladders to secure the st ps thereot lo the legs ol' the same and that the said lllili'lill may be easil and uick v applied in posi tion to torzn a strong and durable lru-tur n pro ision being made for the application ol the il'astening nails and the truss rod which latter member greatly streiug thens and prolongs the life of the ladder. i

What i claimed is A bracket for supporting; lhe step ol' a step ladder unnprising an elongggalell base plate having upper and lower. inwardly directed horizontal llangcs a ranged along the upper and lower edges thereof and adapted to releive the adjacent end ol the site (b lower flange comprising two spared se tions, said base having a lower opening lo-- cated betwee the said sections and a pair of spaced openi s located between the upper and. lower flanges, a d mlwardlr directed inclined flanges located at the trout and rear edges of the base plate and adapted to ruceive the inner ili'a e of the inclined leg of the ladder liietween the same and lo bear an'niusf led "rent and rear edges ilietc l',

' the oi the laddz and the h intermediate the innr entering the end oi the step. and

a truss ved reachingfrom end lo cud ol' the slep below said step and travers ng lhr lower opening in the base plate lw'lrwrcn the spa l sections ol' the lower llaiure an: the lo ol' the la lder, and means l'or l'ljl'lllllllllflf the truss rod.

in testimony that l, claim lhe 'l'ore;,yoing; it; my own. i ha. thcrelo allired my signature.

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